A 72-year-old man will become the genetic father of his own
grandchild after agreeing to donate sperm to his daughter-in-law in
London to allow her to conceive, a British newspaper said today.

The unnamed man became a donor after his son and daughter-in-law
could not conceive a child through IVF (in-vitro fertilisation)
because his son's sperm was not of high quality, London's Evening
Standard newspaper reported.

His son will become the father of his genetic half-brother, the
paper pointed out.

The sperm is being screened at the London Women's Clinic, which
is treating the couple who are in their 30s and who have requested
anonymity.

The clinic's co-medical director, Doctor Peter Bowen-Simkins,
told the daily he had never seen such a case before, but some people
are now willing to consider all kinds of options with progress in
fertility treatment.

"Obviously the wife's mother-in-law also had to be included in
all the conversations but she has no objections," he was quoted as
saying.

"Society has also changed its perceptions of what is and what is
not acceptable. In this case, keeping the identity of the child
similar to their own was a huge factor.

"The husband does not have a brother, which is why he chose his
own father to assist."

A spokeswoman for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority (HFEA), which regulates the fertility sector in Britain,
said it did not need to approve the decision.

Donations from family members, including sisters sharing their
eggs, are permitted under British law, she said.